Kids getting creative for cycling safety
Sport Waikato is putting fun back into safety by giving South Waikato children the chance to design their own helmets.
Sport Waikato’s South Waikato District coordinator Lisa Mansell said until February 28 kids, up to the age of eight, can pick up helmet templates from their schools or from the South Waikato office in Swanston St and colour them in how they like.
Judges will then choose six designs which will be put onto actual helmets by Rotorua graffiti artist Ants Haines. There are categories for one to three-yearolds, four to six-year-olds and seven to eight-year-olds and two designs from each will be chosen.
Mansell said it’s part of February Bike Month which aims to promote cycling in New Zealand.
‘‘I did this a few years back with Sport Bay of Plenty but it’s the first time it’s being done in the South Waikato,’’ she said.
‘‘Basically throughout the month every individual in each classroom can design their own helmet and be however creative they want to be.’’
‘‘It’s about encouraging our kids to engage in cycling safety and cycling in general in the South Waikato,’’ she said.
She said there was a need for more awareness around cycling safety due to the growing interest.
‘‘It's about encouraging our kids to engage in cycling safety and cycling in general in the South Waikato.’’
‘‘The Cougar Mountain Bike Park, Jim Mcmurray who is now a world renowned cyclist, the Forestland Wheelers Cycling Club, and our track in general like the Waikato River Trails have all really encouraged cycling in the South Waikato,’’ she said.
‘‘Kids are also starting to look at cycling to school a lot more so there is safety around that too.’’
Mansell said South Waikato District Council road safety coordinator Robert Cathie, South Waikato Cycles and Lawncare’s Warren Goodhue, and Haines will judge the entries in early March.
‘‘I will display all the entries on the windows and after we do the judging I’ll send the helmets with the winning designs to Ants and it will probably take him three or four weeks to do them,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s really easy for kids to take part, they can even take them home and do them if they can’t at school and the finished results mean they will have an original helmet that no one else has.’’